Feds post tender for leasing services contract

The federal government’s plan to buy more lease brokerage services for the National Capital Region from the private sector has taken another step forward.

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The government has posted a tender notice to its BuyandSell.gc.ca procurement website asking for private companies to submit bids.

It’s part of a strategy that "includes adopting a more aggressive leasing strategy to secure competitive rates and improving long-term strategic program planning,” according to the tender notice.

Public Works, the department that handles much of the feds’ property management responsibilities,first made public the plan to expand the outsourcing of leasing brokerage services earlier this year.

Under the previous contract issued in 2010 the broker,CB Richard Ellis, was responsible for working on deals for office space of less than 21,500 square feet and only on the Ottawa side of the river.

The five-year contract that is currently open to bids would apply to both Ottawa and Gatineau.

The contractor would be required to find and negotiate new leases for government offices, advertise and negotiate leases with third-party tenants in government-owned or administered buildings and provide related consulting services.

Public Works currently occupies over 16 million square feet of office space in the National Capital Region.

Bidding on the contract closes on Jan. 24, 2014. A bidders conference is scheduled for Jan. 8.